Are you busy planning your wedding day and getting excited about how your furry favourite will fully embrace the role of dog of honour? There are a few ways you can help prepare your dog for their big day to make sure they’re ready to rock and roll. Here’s how!
1. Set up a training routine before your wedding
Your dog doesn’t need to know how to high-five all the wedding guests, but a few basic commands are definitely helpful on your wedding day. You’ll want them to know how to sit, wait, stay and come before making their way down the aisle.
If you have a puppy that still needs to figure out what his ears are for, you might want to start a few months before your wedding. Start off with short training sessions a few times a week of around 5 to 10 minutes long and build up from there. Don’t forget the treats!
If your dog is a bit more skilled, you can test his ability of how well he listens to others. This is especially helpful if a Pet Assistant is walking your dog down the aisle, or if someone in your bridal party will be your dog’s chaperone on the day.
2. Know your dog’s personality
If you wish to include your dog in your wedding day, try to make sure the festivities are tailored to their needs as well. Is your four-legged bestie shy or wary of new people? Then work on his socialisation skills to boost his confidence before your big day.
Or is your dog full of beans and do you already know they’ll have energy to burn on the day? Make sure to include a bit of time before their entrance to allow them to stretch their legs. You don’t want them pouncing down the aisle and knocking over your celebrant (albeit a good photo op).
Is your dog anxious at night time and are you worried they won’t settle without you? Find pet-friendly accommodation near your wedding venue and book an overnight stay with a Pet Assistant (we can help you with this!). This will help your dog relax and give you peace of mind while you’re celebrating your first night away as newlyweds that your dog won’t be alone.
By planning your wedding day with your dog’s needs mapped out too, your day will be less stressful for both you and your pooch.
3. Visit your wedding venue with your dog
If you have a chance to visit your pet-friendly wedding venue before your big day, we highly recommend you take your dog with you. By letting them sniff all the smells and water all the trees, your dog will feel a lot more at ease when it’s time to say ‘I Do’.
A bonus is that you’ll get to practice the road trip with your dog and how easy it is to walk them from the car park to your wedding spot. Plus, you can discover any photogenic spots where you can pose with your partner and pooch to share with your photographer.
4. Book a Pet Assistant to help out on the day
Indulge in all the love and happiness your dog will bring to your wedding day without the added stress by booking a Pet Assistant for your wedding day. Our experienced animal lovers can:
- Escort your dog to your wedding location
- Help them look downright dapper
- Meet all their needs on the day
- Make sure they don’t miss out on any key moments
- Tuck them in bed afterwards
Why stress out about whether or not your dog is happy on your wedding day when you can let someone else take care of them? This will allow you to have your furry BFF right by your side on the day while you can focus on everything else.
5. Help your dog feel comfortable wearing accessories
Would you like your dog to wear any pet accessories to further amplify his cute factor? Think sweet flower collars, ring bearer tuxedos and bandannas (we offer free accessory hire!). Help him feel comfortable on the day by practicing beforehand. You can do this by repeating the steps of placing something over or around their head or neck and rewarding them with treats afterwards.
Bonus tip: enjoy the day!
Dogs feed off our energy and can sense if you’re stressed. Even though wedding day jitters are all part of it and perfectly normal, try to shake off any stress you may have and enjoy your big day! This will also help your dog feel happy and relaxed. Need a serotonin boost? Just give your loyal sidekick a pat or belly rub to feel instantly at ease, it works both ways too!